The Terminator
(1984)

Rated: R
Runtime: 1 Hour and 48 Minutes

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Reviewer: Erik
Grade: A-

"The Terminator" is a suspenseful, action-packed thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Throw all that aside, however, and you still have a good story that pits good versus evil, man versus machine, and what the future holds. This isn't lazy work.

A terminator is sent to present-day (1984) Los Angeles with one goal in mind: Kill Sarah Connor. Turns out this terminator is part of a machine army that's in its dying days in the future, going up against an army of humans.

To counter this, one of the humans (Reese) is sent back as well, with the intent of protecting her. Along the way, we'll learn that Sarah will be the mother of a great military leader in the future. This leader is a God to the humans, but an enemy to the machines.

The problem is, Reese won't have an easy time taking out the terminator with such primitive weapons. The terminator, meanwhile, can withstand repeated, heavy gunfire. He's made of kevlar, and it'll take a real licking to do this guy in.

That sets the stage. I'll say no more, except the action sequences will blow you away.
Particularly good is the scene where the terminator tracks Sarah down in a discoteque. The music, combined with several slow-motion shots, and a drowned-out sound effect, is absolutely brilliant.

There's a gigantic shootout at a police station where the terminator shows exactly how superior he is to your everyday police officer. And there's a final showdown where the terminator is supposedly killed a good two or three times.

The storyline is strong, and the performances are solid. The suspense is top-notch stuff. This is good, solid entertainment, the stuff classics are made of. Highly recommended.